Battery-vent.



Patented A pr. 29, 1919.

amoemtoz Gtfozuugd the UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHESTER M. ANGELL, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR T0 VES TA ACCUMULATOB COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

. BATTERY-VENT.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed September 6, 1918. Serial No. 252,932.

'Chicago, in the county of Cook and .State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Battery-Vents, of which the following is a specification. V

- The present invention .relates to vent mechanism for storage batteries and its general object is to provide a simple means for permitting the escape of gases from the battery and preventing the escape of liquid therefrom.

It is the particular object of this invention to prevent the escape of liquid not only from inverted cells, but also from cells that may be laid upon their side or even tilted at a less angle.

The invention will be more fully described in the annexed specification and more particularly pointed out in the claims.

'In the drawings which form a part of the specification,

Figure 1 is a vertical section showing a device embodying the invention in normal operation;

Fig. 2 a vertical section similar to Fig. 1, showing the device in closing position, and Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a-detail. In the drawings 1 represents a one-piece cover plate of a battery cell. This plate has the usual openings 2 and 2' through which extend the binding posts (not shown) and an opening 3 adapted to receive the vent mechanism forming the subject matter of present invention. This vent mechanism conslsts preferably of three parts, namely a plug 4 having a flaring or funnel shaped recess 8, a top plate 10 having a central vent opening 12 and a sealing element 15 preferably of lead, hard rubber or other suitable material and shaped to loosely fit the flaring recess 8.

The plug 4 has a screw-threaded tenon 5 adapted to fit the screw-threaded opening 3 in the cover plate 1 and a clrcu'lar shoul er 6 to fit tightly against the cover plate. The lower portion of the plug is preferably hollowed out to form a recess 7. At the upper end of the plug 4' is provided a circular seat 9 adapted to receive the top plate 10. Intermediate the flaring recess 8 and the Seat 9 is formed a short cylindrical portion 11, the significance of which quently brought out.

Intermediate the recesses 7 and 8 and interconnectin them is a passage 13 of small dlameter to orm a vent opening similar to will be subse- Patented Apr. 29, 1915? and in alinement with the vent opening 12 1 in the top plate 10.

The space of the recess 8 is substantially taken up \by the sealing element 15 which is approximately a truncated cone. Near the base this cone is provided with a short cylindrical portion 14 of slightly smaller diameter than the cylindrical portion 11. The conical surface of the element 15 is provided on opposite sides with slightly flattened portions 16 to form slight clearances and thereby establish a permanent communication between the passage 13 and the vent opening 12, the conical element 15 being of such height as to leave normally a small space below the top plate v10.

When the cell is in normal upright position as indicated in Fig. 1, the gases pass through the clearance spaces 16 to the space above the element 15 and out through the vent opening 12. When the; cell is tilted to such an extent that the liquid could flow through the passage 13, the conical sealing member 15 will slide down the wall of the recess 8 and the cylindrical portion 14 will pass into the cylindrical portion 11 of the recess 8 while the upper surface of the element 15 will close the vent opening 12 in the top plate. Since the recess 8 and the element 15 are conical, the closin action will take place no matter in what direction the cell is tilted.

I prefer to make the cylindrical portion 14 slightly longer than the cylindrical portion 11 so that the upper face of the element 15 will positively close the opening 12 be-' passages may be used.

member in the funnelshapedelement adapted to have sliding motion therein, said conical sealing member and funnel-shaped element being constructed to establish a gas passage therebetween.

2. Vent mechanism comprising a funnelshaped element, acover plate therefor having a vent opening, a conical sealingmemher in the funnel-shaped element adapted to have sliding motion therein and means on the said sealing member to define a gas passage between it and the Wall of the funnel shaped element.

3. Vent mechanism comprising a tubular body defining a substantially conical passage, a cover plate across the flaring mouth of-the tubular body having a vent opening,

a conical sealing element substantially filling the conical passage, but having limited- "sliding motion therein toward and away from the cover plate whereby the said vent opening may be opened and closed, and means on the sealing member to define a gas passage between it and the wall of the conical passage when the vent opening is uncovered.

4. Vent mechanism comprising a tubular body defining a substantially conical passage, a closure across the flaring mouth of the tubular body'hav-ing a'vent opening, a conical sealing element having a flat base and adapted to have limited sliding movement in said conical passage toward and away from the said closure whereby the said vent opening may be opened and closed by the fiat base and means for defining a gas passage between the wall of the conical passage and the conical element when the 'vent opening is uncovered.

In testimony whereof,I aflix my signature.

CHESTER M. ANGELL. 

